Bright Ones in Jainism

Author(s): J L Jaini
Publisher: ZZZ Unknown

Page 9

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The celestial beings can assume any form they like. The body has no flesh, blood, and bones, and there are no filthy excretions from it. It is very lustrous and bright. It may be compared to a cloud shot with the shining glory of a rising or setting sun, now looking like one living being, now changing itself into another form.
THEIR ORDERS.
According to Jainism the Gods have four Orders or Groups:
1. Residential, Bhavanavasi with 10 classes;
2. Peripatetic, Vyantara, with 8 classes;
3.
Stellar, Jyotisha with 5 classes; and 4. Heavenly, Vaimanika, with 12 classes.
Each class has 10 grades:
Indra
Samanika
Powerful and of supreme authority, like a king. This class includes the Pratindras, or SubIndras, who are like the heir-apparent. Powerful but not as authoritative as Indra; like father, teacher.
Trayastrinsa-Like minister' or priest or the King's sons, so-called because they are 33 in number
Parisad- Like courtiers.'
Atma-raksa-Like' body-guards.'
Loka-pala- Like 'the police'; the protectors of the people. Anika- Like the army.'
Prakirnaka- Like the people.'
Abhiyogya- Like that grade of celestial beings who form themselves into conveyances as horse, lion,
bull, swan, etc, etc. for the other grades.
Kilbishika
Like the servile grade.
But the Peripatetics and Stellers do not have the Trayastrinsat and Loka-pala.
THEIR CLASSES.
The Phavanavasi or Residential gods are of 10 classes:1. Asurakumara, 2. Nagakumara 3. Vidyutakumara 4. Suparnakumara 5. Agnikumara 6. Vatakumara 7. Stanitakumara 8. Udadhikumara 9. Dvipakumara and 10. Digkumarą.